Museum Collections
Luce Center
Woodcarving (squirrel)
Object Number:
INV.7961
Date:
ca. 1890-1920
Medium:
Wood, paint
Dimensions:
Overall: 5 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. ( 14 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm )
Marks:
incised: on back of base: "AWM"
Description:
Carved wooden squirrel on square base; painted brown with circular black eyes outlined in yellow and yellow nut clutched below chin.
Gallery Label:
This woodcarving is tentatively attributed to Aaron Mountz, a Pennsylvania folk carver who worked in the tradition of Wilhelm Schimmel. Mountz probably produced less than fifty works, of which perhaps only a dozen or so survive. He typically left his carvings unpainted. However, some, it seems, were painted later by subsequent owners.
Bibliography:
Black, Mary C., "Make believe and make do: American children's toys," Antiques, December 1962, pp. 620-623.
Christensen, Erwin O., The Index of American Design. New York, Macmillan, 1950, pp. 135-137.
Flower, Milton E., "Aaron Mountz, Primitive Woodcarver," Antiques, June 1960, pp. 586-587.
Flower, Milton E., "Wilhelm Schimmel and Aaron Mountz wood carvers," [exhibition catalog], Williamsburg, Va. : Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection, 1965.
Lichten, Frances. Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania. New York, C. Scribner's sons; London, C. Scribner's sons, ltd., 1946. p. 115.
Credit Line:
Purchased from Elie Nadelman
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.